CA election author of the “Name of the Rose”, Umberto Eco estimated that the function of a library is to “promote the discovery of books whose reader did not suspect existence and which prove to be of capital importance for him”. In the case of book boxes, the first assertion is often verified, the second is very relative.
From one district to another, even apparently insignificant works are nonetheless revealing literary preferences. An appetite for biographies here, an interest in historical novels there, to everyone their tastes. Without a desire to judge but with a certain curiosity, “South West” had fun taking a look in seven street libraries in the city. Thus, by opening the book box of Saint-Éloi, near the city stadium on rue Pilâtre-de-Rozier, the nomadic reader is welcomed by the smile of Line Renaud, on the cover of his book devoted to his “Maman” (Editions du Rocher).
Would there be blue blood in Saint-Eloi? “A girl of the nobility” by Natasha Borovsky (France Loisirs) and “L’Amour de a queen” by David Lockie (Balland) reign on a shelf. At the center (right), we also find “power and life”, by Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (Cie twelve), “for a new governance”, by Jean-Pierre Raffarin (archipelago), and the list of “councilors general of Charente-Maritime, 1822-2020” (the gesture), among which the former President of the Republic and the former Prime Minister (and young Giscardian) represented.
The latter, a notorious sinophile, undoubtedly read “the Beijing roads” by Paul-Loup Sulitzer (pocket), which is seen in the small box of the trumpet embedded in a wall, rue du Lieutenant-Colonel-Bernier. Eclecticism is in order, between an old “Olympic Midi”, the booklet of the film “cease-le-feu” by Emmanuel Courcol (the pact) with Romain Duris on the cover, a conversation guide “English and German” (Flaxman) and a copy of “Tlacuilo” by Michel Rio (Seuil) with highlighted passages.
The modest book box on rue du Cordouan.
Frédéric zalbaza_
Sartre and the big heads
“How to recognize an asshole?” This is Andy’s promise in “Princess 2.0” (404), “a book of a girl who talks about girl stuff”. Other stories of women in Mireuil, in the box made available by the district media library. The choice is wide and quality: “Bakhita” by Véronique Olmi (Albin Michel), “It’s not the end of the world” by Kate Atkinson (pocket), “La Danse des Paams” by Sharon Maas (I read). Jean d’Ormesson in Mireuil, why not! “All men are crazy” (book success) sits on the wardrobe. Very close to the fire extinguisher (!), “Firefighters of France: courage and dedication”, by Djamel Ben Mohamed and Carlo Zaglia (Carlo Zaglia), recalls the presence of the barracks in the neighborhood.
At Lafond, at the entrance to the Maurice-Delaunay Vélodrome, the story of “Danny, world champion”, by Roald Dahl (Hachette), is told to us. To our knowledge, he never worn the jersey of the Véloce Club Charente Océan (VCCO). Point of convicts of the road, but a peloton of great authors: George Sand (“François Le Champi”, Folio), Paulo Coelho (“Eleven minutes”, Anne Carrière), Elia Kazan (“Le Monster Sacré”, club for you), Sylvie Germain (“Night of Amber”, Gallimard). Jean Anglade succeeds in the double, with “Le Grillon Green” (press of the city) and his “History of Auvergne” (Hachette).
And who returns to the race in Saint-Maurice, Place Charles-Fromentin? Paul-Loup Sulitzer, with “Empress” (pocket). Even more improbable is the duo formed by Jean-Paul Sartre (“the respectful damn”, pocket) and Philippe Bouvard (“Les Pous Ries des Grosses”, RTL). We also think that the “Marco Polo” of Maria Bellonci (France Loisirs) would have gladly traveled with the tourist guide of Vietnam posed opposite.
Conspiracy fantasies
Rue du Cordouan, the contents of the book box holds on a small shelf. Around a huge and disturbing pavement of Stella Gemmell (“La Cité”, Bragelonne), rub shoulders with an old “Paris Match” displaying Jean-Marie Le Pen in one, “crazy money” by Alain Minc (pocket) and “love and hatred” by Konsalik (France Loisirs).
Rue Bujaud, the look of tourists arises on the “telerama” deposited with the few self-service books, including “Treat your hair” (Marabout Flash). La Charentaise Marie-Bernadette Dupuy is the star writer there, with no less than three works: “La Cave aux Fées”, “La Vallée des Eaux Clear” and “Le Moulin du Loup” (France Loisirs).
The conspirators of the neighborhood also have enough to feed their fantasies, between “30 years of CIA” by William Colby (Renaissance press) and “The Shadow Sect” by James Gippando (the club) …